The Wyss Foundation announced today that, with a commitment of $5 million from its Chairman, Hansjörg Wyss, it is joining the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation in support of its newest initiative, No Ceilings: The Full Participation Project.

No Ceilings is an effort led by Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Clinton Foundation to bring together partner organizations—international institutions, governments, businesses, NGOs, and others—to evaluate and share the progress women and girls have made in the 20 years since the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and chart the path forward to accelerate full participation for women and girls in the 21st century. The full participation of women and girls is critical to global progress, development, and security.

“The great unfinished business of the 21st century is helping women and girls break through these ceilings and participate fully in every aspect of life once and for all,” Secretary Clinton said in her speech announcing the initiative last month. “We have an opportunity to take a look and come up with an honest assessment, because while the challenges we face are significant, they are solvable."

No Ceilings will create a comprehensive and compelling global review of the gains that have been made as well as the gaps that remain and will make this information accessible to leaders, advocates and the public around the world. Armed with this information, Secretary Clinton will outline a 21st century agenda to accelerate full participation for women and girls around the world. The project will convene the private sector, government, civil society, and individuals to accelerate progress toward this agenda and drive real change.

“There is no more important step we can take toward a more just, prosperous, and stable world than building societies in which women and girls are empowered and have equal opportunities,” said Hansjörg Wyss, a businessman and philanthropist who founded the Wyss Foundation in 1998 and who now lives in Wilson, Wyoming. Earlier this week, Wyss made the 'Giving Pledge,' committingto give away more than half his wealth to charity. “With Secretary Clinton’s leadership, the No Ceilings project will help mobilize public and private resources to overcome the barriers to opportunity and participation that prevent women – and our societies – from achieving their full potential.”

This investment marks the launch of a new Women’s Equality Program at the Wyss Foundation, which will work to empower women and realize full equality in the U.S. and around the globe through grants to projects in women’s health, economic empowerment, and political participation and leadership. The Women’s Equality Program builds on ongoing Wyss philanthropy in areas that include land conservation, basic science, medicine, conflict resolution, and the arts.

The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation dedicated to supporting innovative, lasting solutions that improve lives, empower communities, and strengthen connections to the land. Since its founding in 1998 by Hansjörg Wyss, the Wyss Foundation has invested more than $175 million to help local communities, land trusts and non-profit partners conserve nearly 14 million acres of the American West for future generations to explore and enjoy. The Wyss Foundation’s philanthropy now supports a wide range of programs and initiatives that aim to ensure that everyone has the chance to pursue their dreams and fulfill their potential. Projects have included work on fair financial products, protection for new immigrants, alleviating poverty, and access to healthcare. Building societies in which women are empowered and have equal opportunities is a top priority for the Foundation.